In 2011, coal shipments from the Port of Newcastle in Queensland, the coal producing state of Australia, increased by 11.3 percent year on year, totaling 114.1 million metric tons, according to Newcastle Port Corporation. The figure constitutes an all-time record annual coal export volume for the Port of Newcastle, while a record monthly coal export volume of 11.6 million mt was registered in December alone.
According to the released information, the increased coal trade worth $12.8 billion is a major contributor to the state and national economy. Chief executive officer of Newcastle Port Corporation, Gary Webb, said, "The 11 percent increase for the year is a reflection of continued strong demand for coal from the Hunter Valley and the coordinated work of producers and service providers to expand exports."